I have some thoughts about the messy disqualification of Gabe Grunewald, the apparent winner of the women's 3,000 meters at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.

I saw the race from my living room on NBCSN. I saw Grunewald bump Jordan Hasay from behind as she went to pass her on the last lap of the race.

It appears to me that the contact bothered Hasay more than it did Grunewald. Hasay stumbled and slowed. Grunewald continued to accelerate.

I did not see the yellow flag raised, but am not surprised it was raised. Nor am I surprised that Alberto Salazar, who coaches Hasay as part of the Nike Oregon Project, chose to protest the race.

Not being at the meet, I don't know what was said onsite. But I carefully was watching the results, because I was trying to write a story. For hours, the results of that race were listed as pending. That leads me to believe that for that long period of time race officials still were looking at evidence and had not made a final determination.

I like LetsRun, and I like the passion and expertise those guys bring to what they write. But their "inside story" quotes three people:

-- Paul Doyle, Grunewald's agent.

-- Dennis Barker, Grunewald's coach.

-- Justin Grunewald, Gabe Grunewald's husband.

It's a one-sided account, and pushes the idea that Salazar and/or Nike brought undue pressure to bear on USA Track & Field to disqualify Grunewald.

Well, Nike does underwrite USA Track & Field, which leads other sponsoring apparel companies to believe Nike has more influence on USATF decisions than is good for the sport.

And a lot of people in the sport don't like Salazar because he is aggressive and, in a sport in which many operate on a shoestring, his athletes lack for nothing. In the track & field world, the Nike Oregon Project is like the New York Yankees or Manchester United.

But all of that resentment and jealousy don't prove anything untoward happened here. It's like putting two and two together and believing it adds up to 10.

"I knew the USATF official already had raised a flag, and we filed a protest. I felt Jordan was impeded, After looking at enhanced video evidence, including slow-motion, the USATF agreed. I have to protect my people."

I hope USA Track & Field chooses to make public whatever "enhanced video evidence" the meet's Jury of Appeal viewed that led to Grunewald's disqualification. At least then, we could have a more objective reference point to discuss whether the DQ was deserved or not.

OK, more links:

Mary Cain and Lopez Lomong win 1,500 titles as the USA Indoor Championships close in controversy.